Impactful climate-smart projects and innovations, including agroecology techniques, alternative protein farming, and bundled ICT-enabled climate services, are building the resilience of agricultural stakeholders. To bring these interventions to scale, innovative financing, partnerships and enabling policies have a key role to play.
Despite numerous obstacles, women entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly visible on the African continent as they take their businesses to scale
At a time where the world needs to produce more with fewer resources, artificial intelligence (AI) could help to transform agriculture worldwide.
To enable smallholder farmers to improve production, reduce crop loss and ultimately increase productivity, it’s crucial to transform agricultural extension services through impactful decision-support tools and digital know-how.
The need for sustainable food systems and reduced waste is driving the development of innovative circular-system solutions that benefit the environment and the economy.
Smart technologies and cutting-edge data gathering are slashing the costs of precision farming, boosting crop yields, and helping every farmer from smallholders to commercial giants.
Africa’s growing youth workforce presents enormous potential for agricultural transformation, but to capitalise on this promising resource the sector must become a more attractive employment option for the continent’s young people.
To feed the world's population, two-thirds of whom will live in urban areas by 2050, the agricultural sector must find innovative solutions to produce food in increasingly limited areas.
A transition to sustainable energy can impact agricultural businesses at all stages of the value chain. By introducing renewables, businesses can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the effects of climate change and reap the economic benefits.
Access to digital innovations – from SMS advice services to digital networks that connect women in agribusiness – is enabling women to participate in formal agricultural value chains and improve their livelihoods
To increase the resilience and profitability of small-scale African farming in the face of climate change, irrigation projects and innovations are being scaled out across the continent.
Development efforts look to harness youth as the driving force for a new generation of climate-smart farmers, as adverse climate change impacts wreak ever greater havoc on agriculture across ACP countries.
Agricultural innovations must have a more substantial impact to meet the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 – which call for a concerted effort from the public and private sectors, as well as farmers and processors.
Climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices are increasingly adopted as a means to both adapt to a changing climate, and to mitigate agriculture’s negative environmental impacts. Increasing emphasis is placed on a systems approach to CSA, where climate-smart interventions seek to address the entire value chain.
Many traditional crops are highly nutritious and can be a source of income, but their value is often ignored by policymakers, researchers and farmers. Developing better markets for these crops could create new opportunities for small producers.
Increasing amounts of agricultural data are being produced at faster speeds, using a greater variety of technologies and innovations than ever before. But what is the value of information sharing for smallholders, and what are the risks?
The recent boom in ag-tech start-ups has helped to further agricultural transformation and improve farmers’ access to valuable ICT-enabled services. But to continue this progress it is pertinent that entrepreneurs design sustainable business models.
The informal sector provides income and jobs for the most vulnerable populations in developing countries and, if gradually formalised, has potential to become a major lever for growth and development.
Innovative businesswomen from across the ACP are joining international agricultural markets as they strive to overcome gender inequalities and achieve sustainable success in the sector
Increasingly accessible agricultural data is facilitating the scaling out of index-based insurance schemes and helping farmers build resilience and adapt to climate change.
Payments and financial services delivered by mobile phones are transforming the lives and economic prospects of farmers and businesses involved in agricultural value chains.
At the high level conference ‘ONE WORLD - No Hunger’ held in Berlin on 27-28 April 2017, G20 representatives highlighted the critical importance of creating better prospects for young people in rural areas.
Agricultural mechanisation is essential for transforming Africa’s agricultural productivity. Whilst motorised equipment can be expensive to buy and costly to maintain, some interesting new initiatives are providing innovative strategies for farmers to access machinery instrumental in boosting production.
In an increasingly market-driven world, agribusiness cooperatives are strengthening vertical and horizontal links along the value chain to be more reliable and profitable.
Energy access is essential for agricultural growth throughout ACP countries – but the change from fossil fuels to renewables is not without its challenges.
In ACP countries, recent biotechnology developments are making significant advances in producing more climate tolerant and disease resistant crops and livestock breeds.
Producing more crops with less water, while ensuring fair and environment-friendly water distribution, is a major challenge for ACP countries.
In the knowledge-intensive 21st century, what does it mean for a farmer to be connected? And what kinds of tools, support and approaches will allow him or her to fulfil their potential?
Agricultural incubation is an established approach. Yet in the wake of the start-ups, it benefits from a new impetus. An update on agricultural incubation – including advice, technical approaches and financing - with a particular focus on women and youth.
Regional trade deals are a first step towards linking up agricultural markets – but only a first step. Not just an easy alternative to global trade, the regional approach depends on agribusiness and infrastructure that works.
With many of Africa’s economies amongst the fastest growing in the world, middle class urban consumers are increasingly changing the face of the food market in Africa. This evolving, more sophisticated market brings with it new challenges and opportunities.
Reliable data enables governments to draw up and assess more efficient policies and stakeholders to make better decisions. Agricultural statistics slipped out of favour to some extent until the mid-2000s, but the exponential increase in data volumes has prompted reinvestment in statistical information systems.
The forecasted doubling of demand for meat and milk in developing countries in the next two decades offers significant opportunities for livestock producers. However, the availability of - and access to - quality fodder and livestock feed remains an important constraint.
Over 50% of all economically active women in developing regions work in the agricultural sector, but the gender gap persists. It is therefore essential to mainstream gender in production enhancement policies, while also empowering women.
Financing agricultural value chains is a major challenge in ACP countries. To promote access to credit and reduce financial risks, CTA co-organised an international conference (Fin4Ag) in July 2014 in Nairobi with over 750 participants. The reinvention of current business and regulatory finance models has begun.
When a region grows a product that can’t be matched anywhere else, consumers take note. Will geographical indications turn these sources of local pride into global brands?
The growing presence of emerging countries on the world stage is driven primarily by economics, but geopolitical and diplomatic aspirations are also high and South-South cooperation is one way of achieving them. With the exception of Brazil, the agriculture sector is not overlooked but is by no means a priority sector for these new players.
Buoyed by advances in ICT, a ‘digital revolution’ is creating a renaissance in developing countries’ agricultural value chain systems. This dramatic development was at the heart of discussions held during the ICT4Ag conference, organised by CTA and Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources in Kigali in November 2013.
Population growth and the steadily increasing demand for protein that comes with the enhanced standard of living of communities in developing countries has triggered the need to develop livestock production. This is a challenge for many ACP countries. Genetic livestock improvement is an essential but incomplete solution.
ACP universities are on the cusp of change as they strive to provide relevant higher education to the next generation of graduates, who will have to meet the development challenges of the 21st century. Through curriculum reform, partnership and use of ICTs, innovations to transform the way education is delivered are increasing across the regions.
With rapid urban population growth and economic development in Africa, new, profitable markets herald a promising future for aquaculture. The African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) are counting on the private sector to develop sustainable aquaculture.
